Welcome to your Forensic Science course

Welcome to University of Staffordshire

We know you're already passionate about your subject, which is why we're excited you've chosen University of Staffordshire as the place to turn possibility into reality.

To give you an insight into what life as a Forensic Science student is like, your course leaders have prepared introductions to the course and further activities.

Hello, and welcome! We’re excited to meet you on the MSc Forensic Science course that you are soon to start at Staffordshire University. This webpage covers key information that you will find useful before starting your postgraduate study with us in September.

First activity

Your first on-campus session is a course induction talk and will take place on Monday 23rd September from 9:00am-10:00am in R311 (Science Centre on the Leek Road Campus). You will meet your course team on the same day from 11:00am-12:30pm (room to be confirmed).

There will then be an induction to the Independent Research Project module on Monday 23rd September from 1:00pm-3:00pm in LT010 (Ashley Building on the Leek Road Campus).

Your final activities on Monday 23rd September will be a welcome talk by the academic skills team (3:00pm-4:00pm) followed by your first academic skills workshop focused on academic writing (4:00pm-5:00pm). The academic skills sessions will both take place in R101 (Science Centre on the Leek Road Campus).

Your laboratory induction and PPE supply will take place on Tuesday 24th September from 2:00pm-4:00pm in R121 (Science Centre on the Leek Road Campus).

Optional sessions:

If you are interested in taphonomy and decomposition, the Burial Research Group will be meeting on Wednesday 25th September from 1:00pm-3:00pm (room to be confirmed). This is a great place to talk all things research!

On Friday 27th September from 2:00pm-4:00pm (room to be confirmed) there will be a workshop focusing on the use of radiography in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. This is part of an Art and Humanities Research Council funded research project at the university led by Dr Kirsty Squires (Associate Professor of Bioarchaeology), details of which can be found here. Please note, there are a limited number of places so sign up early to avoid disappointment.

If you are interested in attending the Burial Research Group meeting and/or the radiography workshop, please contact Dr Kirsty Squires (Kirsty.Squires@staffs.ac.uk). 

Course delivery

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, and practical sessions at the simulation suite or in the Science Centre laboratories. In addition, you will have meetings with your academic mentor at least three times a year (in October, February, and June) and drop-in sessions will be held throughout the academic year to ensure you get the support you need to succeed.

Your course will provide you with opportunities to engage with formative assessments. These will help us to gauge your understanding of your subject and it allows us to give you feedback before you complete your summative (graded) assessments.

Each module comprises a range of summative assessments, including coursework assessments, practical portfolio work, laboratory reports, presentations, a courtroom exercise, and independent research project. The grades from summative assessments count towards your module mark, and ultimately to your degree classification.

Your course is accredited by The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

Semester one activities

Methods of Crime Detection

On this module you will gain an understanding of the role of forensic science in the investigation of crime. In the first few weeks of the module, you will be introduced to the criminal justice system, the role an expert witness, case assessment and interpretation, and Bayesian statistics and expert witness preparation.

Statistical Approaches in Forensics

This module will be split into two halves. In the first instance, qualitative data will be explored. In the first few weeks of this module, you will learn about observational studies, semi-structured interviews, discourse analysis, grounded theory, and how to use NVivo to transcribe interviews. In the second half of the module, there will be a focus on quantitative data.

Contemporary Issues in Forensic Science

Researchers in forensic science and associated disciplines will be sharing their current research and some of the challenges they face in their work. Some of the topics covered in the first few weeks include forensic biology and ethics in forensics.

Independent Research Project

In Welcome Week you will be required to attend a module induction which will provide key information about the module and assessments. There will also be several academic skills sessions, including academic writing and searching for information.

Pre-Learning

For an introduction to your course, we recommend the following texts.

Jackson and Jackson. 2011. Forensic Science. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

Langford et al. 2018. Practical Skills in Forensic Science. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences: https://www.csofs.org/

Equipment and software

As part of this course, you will be required to use statistical software (including SPSS and NVivo). These can be downloaded from the University website: https://staffsuniversity.sharepoint.com/sites/software/SitePages/Home.aspx 

Academic Skills and Employability

Whether you have just graduated or you're returning to education after some time away, everyone can benefit from the Academic Study Skills resources provided by the University library.

The Academic Skills team is here to support you throughout your academic journey and to help you gain the skills you need to reach your full potential. They can assist with academic reading and writing skills, give advice on how best to plan assignments, and help improve your time management.

The library's Academic Skills Guides offer the key information to make studying easier and give a comprehensive guide to the learning resources and services we offer.

As part of the Independent Research Project module, there will be a range of study skills and employability tutorials throughout the academic year. These are timetabled sessions and are delivered by the Academic Skills and Careers teams, as well as academics.

Groups and societies

Being a member of a Student Society or Sports Team is a great way to meet other students and our Students' Union have a wide range of societies you can join.

Other Useful Links

Meet the team

Dr Kirsty Squires

Associate Professor

Kirsty is an Associate Professor of Bioarchaeology and MSc Forensic Science course leader.

Kirsty's profile

Dr Abdulrahman Oleiwi

Senior Lecturer

Abdulrahman is a lecturer in forensic genetics and forensic biology. He joined Staffordshire University in 2019 within the school of Law, Policing and Forensics and lectures at all levels on Forensic Biology and DNA Profiling.

Abdulrahman's profile

Dr Claire Gwinnett

Professor

I am a Professor in Forensic and Environmental Science. I specialise in forensic fibres analysis, mircoplastics and plastic pollution, hair analysis, paint analysis and glass analysis.

Claire's profile

Dr Alison Davidson

Technical Specialist-Analytical Chemistr

I work in the University’s Analytical Methods Laboratory maintaining a wide range of analytical instrumentation, facilitating the teaching of analytical chemistry and working with researchers.

Alison's profile

Dr Sarah Fieldhouse

Associate Professor

I am a Senior Lecturer and I specialise in fingerprints and their use as forensic evidence.

Sarah's profile

Dr Neil Lamont

Senior Lecturer

Neil's expertise is in analytical chemistry developed in the area of environmental science. He is module leader for Basic Chemical Concepts, Vehicle Collision Investigation and Environmental Forensics and is a member of the Royal Society of Chem…

Neil's profile

Dean Northfield

Senior Lecturer

Dean worked for West Yorkshire Police as a VIPER Officer (2 Years) then an Imaging Officer (6 years). He progressed to Senior Imaging Officer, before finishing his time at West Yorkshire Police in the Forensic Multimedia Unit

Dean's profile

Dr Duncan Parker

Course Director

Duncan Parker joined the university in 2017 as a lecturer in Chemistry, teaching on the Forensic Science degrees. He is now Course Leader for Forensic Science and Course Director for Forensic Science and Investigation.

Duncan's profile

Michelle Hogg

Lecturer

Michelle Hogg, is a forensic biology expert of 14 years, working on 2,400 criminal cases including testifying in court. Now at Staffordshire University, she shares her practical expertise in the classroom for a realistic approach to learning.

Mia Abbott

Lecturer

I am a Lecturer in Forensic Science at University of Staffordshire, teaching across all levels on our bachelor’s and master’s courses. I specialise in drug analysis, with my research surrounding detection of new psychoactive substances (NPS).

Mia's profile

Dr Jodie Dunnett

Senior Lecturer

I am a senior lecturer and Course Leader for Forensic Science. I specialise in forensic chemistry, particularly forensic drug analysis.

Jodie's profile

David Flatman-Fairs

Senior Lecturer

David has been a lecturer at Staffordshire University since 2002, and is now Course Leader for Forensic Investigation. His expertise are in Chemical Analysis, Criminalistic Methods and Crime Scene Processing.

David's profile

What to expect on Welcome Week

We're so excited for you to join us on campus and to welcome you to where you matter. During your welcome week you'll be able to meet our friendly student services teams, connect with new friends, join societies, explore on-campus venues attend club nights and much more.

We look forward to welcoming you in September.

If you have any questions, please send them to your Course Leader: Dr Kirsty Squires, kirsty.squires@staffs.ac.uk 

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